A polynomial invariant for unoriented knots and links (Q1077759)

The authors define recursively a new single variable polynomial \(Q_ L(X)\) for an unoriented link L in \(S^ 3\). The main part of this paper is devoted to prove the invariance of Q(X). Some of the properties of Q(X) proved here are: (1) If \(L_ 2\) is a mutant of \(L_ 1\), then \(Q_{L_ 1}(X)=Q_{L_ 2}(X)\), (2) \(Q_ L(X)-1\) is divisible by 2(x- 1), (3) The degree d of \(Q_ L(X)\) is less than the crossing number of L. (Note that it is now known that d-1 is equal to the crossing number of a reduced alternating link.)